Malignant Melanoma of the Head and Neck

Malignant mucosal melanoma (MMM) of the head and neck is rare and has a poor prognosis. Additionally, MMM has long been regarded as radioresistant. We recruited 106 patients with MMM of the head and neck who were treated with carbon ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) and concomitant chemotherapy. The 5-year local control and overall survival rates of all patients were 80.6 and 54.0 %. The median survival time was 64.8 months. The most common acute toxicities were mucositis (grade 3, 21.7 %) and skin reactions (grade 3, 0.9 %); no reactions worse than grade 3 were observed. Furthermore, the most common adverse events associated with dacarbazine, nimustine hydrochloride, and vincristine sulfate (DAV) chemotherapy were myelotoxicity and liver dysfunction. C-ion RT is a safe and effective treatment for MMM of the head and neck because of good local control and acceptable toxicity. In addition, the overall survival rate was better than the rates associated with conventional radiation therapy and surgery with concomitant chemotherapy.